Crypto billionaire Justin Sun has sued Chinese actress Jing Tian and her parents to recover 30 million yuan, roughly $4.5 million, that he says he transferred as a traditional “bride fee” before their marriage plans collapsed, according to a report on Monday.
Sun Says Marriage Plans Drove Payment
Sun confirmed through his lawyer that the lawsuit seeks repayment of the marriage-related gift, according to the Wall Street Journal. “We dated with marriage in mind,” he told the news outlet. Sun alleged that while the couple was preparing to have a child in the U.S., the “other party” demanded $50 million and later cut off contact after he refused. “The engagement could no longer proceed,” he said. Those allegations have not been established in court yet.
The dispute became public after Sun’s post on X titled “My Girlfriend Jing Tian,” describing their relationship but ending with a disclaimer calling the account “entirely fictional.” Jing responded the next day without directly addressing Sun’s claims, saying she had shown “poor judgment” in men but “will never sell my love for money,” according to the Journal.
Chinese Law Sets Bride-Price Return Rules
Chinese law provides a framework for such disputes. A 2024 Supreme People’s Court interpretation says betrothal-gift rules apply when money or property is provided according to custom for the purpose of marriage. Courts may consider the gift’s purpose and value, local customs, marriage registration, cohabitation, children, use of the money, and the parties’ conduct when deciding whether funds should be returned.
Sun’s Legal Battles Extend Beyond Romance
Sun founded the Tron (CRYPTO: TRX) blockchain and has faced high-profile legal disputes. In March, the SEC dismissed its remaining claims against Sun, the TRON Foundation and the BitTorrent Foundation under a settlement in which Rainberry agreed to a $10 million civil penalty without admitting or denying the settled allegations.
Sun also sued Trump-family-backed World Liberty Financial in April over frozen WLFI tokens. Reuters reported that Sun had invested $45 million in the venture, while World Liberty disputed his claims.
The billionaire has previously paid $6.2 million for Maurizio Cattelan’s duct-taped banana artwork “Comedian,” according to Sotheby’s. The latest lawsuit, however, shifts attention from Sun’s public stunts to a private relationship and a traditional Chinese marriage custom now before a court.
Image via Shutterstock
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